My Grandma

I was watching my "DVR'd" episode of Grey's Anatomy today; it had the story of a old woman who dies after 3 years of having "a month to live." Her family is frustrated and worn out. I am not an overly sentimental person but the character said of her family, "they're my people, they are inpatient, but they are my people. Having people is better than not having people."
I have to say it made me cry. My Grandma Bettie Joe used to refer to "her people." Quite a feat for someone who was: adopted, struggled with inter-personal relationships, was rejected in her quest to discover her biologic family, lost her husband to cancer at age 39, raised her daughter alone in a time when single parenting wasn't normal, lost her son to cancer at age 68, and lived alone most of her life. She was Cantankerous and often even rude BUT, her heart was AMAZING. She loved people, she cared beyond imagination, she would give whatever she had for whoever was in need. She had never had a good example of how to love people and be "nice" --- so, she loved people, and wasn't nice most of the time. But, again, I say she was amazing. In her retired years, especially as her sight was waining, she read her Large-Print, falling apart Bible with a magnifying glass and she prayed most of the day; it was not a prayer you would hear in a church but a prayer that was honest and conversational with Jesus. A prayer centered around the needs of those she loved and everything she was thankful for. She also wrote my kids a letter EVERY week to tell them stories, give them history lessons, and to connect with them. (I have saved every one.)
Two years ago today, we buried her (on my birthday). Her sickness and death were sudden. She went to the hospital after a fall and died 5 days later from complications of a undiagnosed cancer, at age 81. She lived in her own home until she went into the hospital, and once she was sick, stayed alive until all her closest relatives had said their "good-byes." She didn't want to be in a nursing home and she didn't want assisted living. She was too independent for that. She lived on her terms and she died on her terms. She wasn't perfect, and who of us is?? But I can say, I loved her, I miss her, I can't wait to see her again in heaven and I am honored to remember her on my birthday.

Birthday Breakfast in Bed

This morning my boys, Colin & Connor, brought me a Birthday Surprise: Breakfast in Bed! HOW SWEET!

It included: Toaster Strudels, 2 homemade cards, & 4 Pixie Sticks (for "being a great mom"). Since they don't grind beans and use the coffee maker, they included a Diet Dr. Pepper to assist me in waking up (they know about my caffeine habit). :)

It is such a blessing to have awesome sons. I am blessed and highly favored. I am grateful that their hearts are so caring, not just for me but for those around them. I am also grateful for my wonderful husband who demonstrates to them daily about what kind of men they should become.

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him." Psalms 127:3

10 Minutes with Willie

I got this text page today asking me, "What's for dinner?". 

Then I realized it was from a very close friend who lives in Springfield, Missouri. Turns out he was coming through town for work and I told him that if he was ever close by, he needed to call. 

There are some people who, when you meet them; in 10 minutes you can catch up on a life time and feel instantly close to. Willie is one of those guys. 

He towers over me, could bench press me, and yet he is the most humble and sociable guys you could ever meet. He started his own company over a year ago and we spent time talking about the future, business, life, and family. I have known Willie since 2002 and while I have met his family several times...he has never met mine. I was so thrilled to introduce my kids to this closest of friends.  

I did not tell Connor what kind of company Willie owns so when we walked down the street to meet him and Willie is driving this massive semi-truck...Connor was in heaven! He was so excited and this is what I love about Willie...He immediately introduced himself to Connor and just started loving on him. Willie gets it! He has such a heart for people and I totally respect his unwavering ethics and decisions to be with his family on the weekends. He said tonight, "Saturday is family day and Sunday is the Lord's Day"...I know he means it, lives it out, models it for his kids, and God is and will continue to bless him for his commitment to his convictions. 

Sharon & Cooper's Baby Shower

What a blessing! Saturday at 2pm, my wonderful friends, Shauna and Anna, hosted a beautiful baby shower for Cooper and I. I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to have such loving friends. David and I have only been living in Virginia for 18 months and if anyone who has known me for a while is reading this, you know how hard it is for me to make friends. I have always had lots of acquantances, but it has always taken me a long time to develop true friendships. Moving to DC was no different, in fact, it could've been harder. This is the center of all things closed, political and click-ish, which can easily make you feel like an outsider and make it difficult to establish trusting relationships. But God has been faithful in this move and I have awesome friends!!
So, back to the baby shower: my sister-in-law, Kristin, was able to drive in from Ohio along with her mom Debbie and her sister Amy (who David has known for most of his life). My mom was of course here and my godmother and name-sake, Sharon Perry was also in attendance. In addition, friends new and old whom David and I have met were able to attend along with others from church, from the military, and from our recent mission trip. Shauna and Anna created a beautiful event. The food was awesome. The atmosphere was special. The "activities" were creative and unique. They had the guests shape "babies" out of play-do and had me judge whose was the best. They created an ABC book for Cooper which we will read with him often, where each lady did a letter of the alphabet. They had all the guests sign a Pig "Piggy Bank" for Cooper instead of a guestbook. It is ADORABLE and what a cool, tangable memory for us to be able to look at daily. I just don't have words to describe how touched I am, thank-you seems so inadequate but it will have to do for now, so, THANK-YOU ladies.

**Don't forget that if you click on any mosaic or picture in our blog, it'll enlarge the pictures for a better view.

The women in the group picture are:
Front left---Laura Blackann, Lindsey Braley, and Anna Martin
Main Row (left to right)---Glenda McMath, Dana Frisillo, Katie McFaddin, Me, Kristin Simon, Debbie Havaich, Susan McDermitt, Jessica Powers, and Lambeth Evans
Back Right (left to right)---Shauna Oswald, Jenny Herald, Stefanie Chappell, and just in front of them---Sharon Perry and Bettie St.Clair
Not Pictured: Gwen Graber, Jenni Graber, and Amy Havaich who had to leave early

Easter Clothes

Sybella enjoyed trying on her Easter Outfit and "modeling" for me. She can't wait to wear it again on Easter!

Saturday Morning in Dad's Eyes

Here are some pictures from a Saturday Morning about a week ago. David was just walking around the house snapping shots. Looks like the boys are a bit camera shy in the morning.

My Computer

Two weeks ago I was sitting at my computer updating Microsoft Money and my computer went black. No Power. My computer is about 15 months old, so this was absolutely unexpected.
What now? After trouble-shooting several things and consulting 2 computer-saavy people we know, we decided to remove and back-up the hard-drive (ok, 'we' being Dave Mather, one of the guys that works with David) and then take the computer to Micro Center for a repair that we hoped would not be expensive. We were pretty sure from our consultations with our computer-saavy friends that it was the Logic Center on the Mother Board. So, David took it in and explained our suspicians. The local service department told us after their 'mandetory' diagnostic exam that, "the power could not be turned on at all" (Duh- we knew this, that's why we brought it in) so, the computer would have to be "sent out" to the service center and would "take a while."
Well, long story short, I have been LOST for 2 weeks. I am dependent on my computer for so much! Even with my iPhone which kept me afloat, I was not nearly as organized or functional as I usually am. But, tonight, I have my computer back. It's fixed!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to get back into motion in my 'cutomary' manner!
Thanks to everyone who needed or wanted projects, information, or e-mail from me and was very patient over the last two weeks.
~Sharon

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger and A Day with a Perfect Stranger

From the title of this blog, you might think that I had an interesting day, and I did, the day I read these two books.
I often review books for publishers but rarely do I get the opportunity to say, "I couldn't put this book down; I read it in one sitting!" And let me assure you that a mother of 3 kids with a fourth on the way can rarely say that about any task. These books are AMAZING!! From the content on various religions, the Bible, relationship restoration, love, humor, and the plain truth in these books, all be them fiction, I was captivated.

I can not more highly recommend a book, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, and it's sequel, a Day with a Perfect Stranger. I must say: "Buy them, Read them, and then Pass them on." I have a list of people at least 20 long that I want to get copies for.

I am including the summaries of the books below (even though they do not do justice to the books) along with a link to buy them---I was serious about the "Buy them" part.


Dinner with a Perfect Stranger:

You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth--
The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.
The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

Day with a Perfect Stranger:

What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself?
When her husband comes home with a far fetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through.
On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment.
As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?

Enjoy Reading!

~Sharon

Absent

Totally have to apologize for not being diligent to posting on the blog lately. I have allowed life, business, and Facebook to distract me. Sang this song on Sunday morning...it never gets old and then my mother sent me this link. I would have loved to have been at the concert.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid271552717/bctid1913313052

I have three books going: The Shack - Me, Myself, and Bob - and the Collapse of Distinction. I will be posting book reviews and comments in the next week.

Again...sorry for being absent. So much to share and so much to capture as the kids are growing and life's opportunities are expanding.

~David